ABOUT US
OTTA is the result of two music lover’s lifetime quest for the full expression of what they know is possible in music replay: the moments when the equipment disappears and only the music remains. OTTA stands for “Over The Top Analogue”.
Out of one singular obsession, to close the distance between the performer’s intention and the listener’s heart, and one belief system, that the highest purpose of reproduction of music is in components that are composed and not assembled, dedicated to the highest purpose, which is to transfer passion and emotion from the performer and the listener, two lifelong music friends, Philip O’Hanlon and Eckard Derks, started OTTA at the point of contact where the physical grooves of a vinyl record is converted into electrical signals with precision – the cartridges.
OTTA marries 21st-century innovation with a century of accumulated understanding, combining scientific precision with artisanal craft. The result is something that cannot be measured on a spec sheet. It is a three-dimensional soundstage that envelops you, a silence between the notes that breathes, a midrange so right that even the most jaded ear finds itself suddenly, helplessly, moved. OTTA sets out to transform your listening room into a sanctuary of peace and contentment, delivering fresh insight into music reproduction. OTTA’s beautiful and innovative musical instruments are crafted for the discerning connoisseur.
OTTA — Design & Technology
Precision Coil Winding
Each coil is wound by OTTA’s most experienced technicians to exceptionally tight tolerances. This meticulous process minimizes uneven capacitance and ensures consistent electrical performance, preserving the delicate nuances of the music.
Proven Cartridge Format
OTTA uses the established DL-103 form factor as a dimensional reference, ensuring broad compatibility with a wide range of tonearms, headshells and turntables, both vintage and modern.
Beyond its external dimensions, however, OTTA is entirely its own design—with its own materials, motor system, construction and technology.
German Craftsmanship
Handmade in Germany by technicians with more than 25 years of experience, every OTTA cartridge undergoes individual quality control after assembly. Beyond precise electrical measurements, each cartridge is mounted on a tonearm and evaluated using a selection of reference recordings chosen by the craftsmen themselves.
OTTA’s philosophy is simple: make the technology disappear and let the music emerge.
The result is a remarkably quiet, deep background from which the music can unfold with exceptional clarity and ease. A silky smoothness gives every instrument, performer, and ensemble its own distinct presence, while preserving the warmth, body, and natural character of the performance.
Precision Engineering
Each cartridge features a precision CNC-machined wooden body, manufactured to exceptionally tight tolerances to perfectly house the aluminium motor base. At its heart is OTTA’s proprietary magnet system, precisely installed within an instrument-grade housing.
A carefully selected cantilever and diamond stylus allow the cartridge to follow the record groove with remarkable precision, revealing the finest details while maintaining a natural and effortless musical presentation.
Ruby Cantilever
Both the OTTA Mandolin and Theorbo feature a ruby cantilever, an exceptional choice at their respective price points.
Ruby offers high rigidity with very low mass, allowing the stylus to respond with remarkable speed and precision. The result is finer detail, better dynamics and a more natural, lifelike sound.
AWARD-WINNING CRAFTMANSHIP
Recognized by the international audio press for exceptional craftmanship and musical performance.
Made of Sandalwood
Sandalwood has been valued for centuries for its distinctive character, stability, and unique natural properties. OTTA cartridge bodies are crafted from carefully selected black sandalwood, chosen for its tonal qualities and its ability to complement the founder’s sonic vision.
Before machining, the wood is carefully dried and aged to improve dimensional stability and minimize the risk of future cracking or expansion. Because every piece of natural wood is unique, each batch behaves differently and requires individual attention during the manufacturing process.
Sandalwood is appreciated for its rich and resonant character. Its natural properties can contribute to a sense of warmth, body, and tonal depth.
Clarity & Articulation
The combination of density and rigidity found in carefully selected hardwoods can help control unwanted vibration while preserving clarity and articulation. Research into woods used for musical instruments confirms that density, stiffness, internal damping, and dimensional stability can all influence their vibrational behaviour.
Natural Sound
The carefully selected wooden body helps manage mechanical resonances naturally, supporting OTTA’s goal of preserving the purity and authenticity of the musical signal.
Acoustic Properties
Wood has long played an important role in musical-instrument construction because of the relationship between its mechanical and acoustic properties. Density, hardness, elasticity, internal damping, and dimensional stability all influence how a particular wood responds to vibration.
For OTTA, black sandalwood is selected not simply for its beauty, but as an integral part of the cartridge design—where material, craftsmanship, and sound become one.
Mandolin vs. Theorbo
Mandolin — Warmth, body, atmosphere and emotion.
Theorbo — The same musical character, with greater resolution, finesse, spatial precision and tracking ability.
Both cartridges share OTTA's ultra-pure 6N OCC coil wire, ruby cantilever, samarium-cobalt magnet system and handcrafted German construction. The difference lies in how these technologies are implemented and refined.
The Mandolin uses a cross-coil generator with an elliptical diamond stylus, giving it the rich, natural and emotionally engaging presentation that defines the OTTA sound. The Theorbo takes the generator considerably further, replacing the cross-coil with a specially wound square-coil architecture and the elliptical stylus with a much more advanced Micro-Ridge diamond. The difference is measurable. Channel balance improves from less than 0.8 dB in the Mandolin to less than 0.02 dB in the Theorbo — an exceptionally tight tolerance that contributes to greater image stability and spatial precision. Channel separation also increases from more than 26 dB to more than 28 dB, while tracking ability improves from 75 µm to 80 µm.
In simple terms, the Mandolin delivers the warmth, body and emotional connection at the heart of OTTA.
The Theorbo preserves that character while allowing you to hear deeper into the recording, with greater focus, finer detail and more precise placement of instruments and voices within the soundstage. The Theorbo is therefore much more than a Mandolin with a better stylus. Its square-coil generator, Micro-Ridge diamond, tighter channel matching and refined overall tuning represent a significant step forward in performance.
OTTA Mandolin MC Cartridge
Weight: 8.4 g
Body: Black Sandalwood
Cantilever: Ruby
Stylus: Refined elliptical diamond
Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
Coil: 6N OCC copper · Cross-coil design
Electrical
Output Voltage: 0.35
Internal Impedance: 5 Ohm
Frequency Response low: +/- 3dB(Hz): 20
Frequency Response high: +/- 3dB(Hz): 25 000
Channel Balance: < 0.8 dB
Channel Separation: > 26 dB
Dynamic Compliance: 15 μm/mN
Set-Up
Recommended Loading Impedance: 100 – 470 Ohm
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5 – 2.0 g (1.8 g recommended)
Tracking Ability: (315 Hz / 2 g) 75 μm
Recommended Tonearm: Medium mass
Break-In Period: 40 hours
Price: 3500 CAD
OTTA Theorbo MC Cartridge
Weight: 8.4 g
Body: Black Sandalwood
Cantilever: Ruby
Stylus: Refined Micro-Ridge diamond
Vertical Tracking Angle: 20°
Coil: 6N OCC copper · Square-coil design with special winding
Electrical
Output Voltage: 0.38 mv at 3.54 cm/s
Internal Impedance: 8.6 Ohm
Frequency Response low: +/- 3dB(Hz): 15
Frequency Response high: +/- 3dB(Hz): 30 000
Channel Balance: < 0.02 dB @ 1Khz
Channel Separation: > 28 dB+ @ 1Khz
Dynamic Compliance: 16 μm/mN
Set-Up
Recommended Loading Impedance: 100 – 470 Ohm
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.5 – 2.0 g (1.8 g recommended)
Tracking Ability: 8 μm
Recommended Tonearm: Medium mass
Break-In Period: 35 hours
Price: 7000$ CAD